FAQ
We carry all major brands like, Hayward, Jandy, Kafko, Pentair, Sta-rite, HPI, Zodiac, Feherguard, and can source pretty much any other brand you request.
Yes. Using a product called TLC. It can be used to clean stairs, coping and it's safe for the liner.
A vinyl pool liner will typically last for 12 to 18 years, although it is not uncommon to see liners 20 years or older. Keeping your ph balanced aids in improving the life of your liner. Our pool liners are also all Canadian made from raw materials to finished product.
This could be an indicator that your sand filter needs to be backwashed. Your under drains in your filter could be heat damaged from turning off your pump while your gas heater is running. Your gauge may also be frost damaged from not being removed for the winter in Winnipeg. The water in the gauge freezes causing the gauge to max out and permanent damage results from this. The good news if it is your guage, they cost under $10 and can be replaced in under 5 minutes.
We offer onsite sales meetings with the customer,while the trend is going towards over the counter sales. Our materials are choosen on quality before price, which means you get the best products available. We also run a low overhead company with our headquarters located just outside the perimeter. These savings are passed onto the customer which is important. Since quality is an act and not a habit we treat each job as if we are working on our own backyard.
We have references available in all areas of Winnipeg and many parts of Manitoba. Please inquire directly.
Your filter may need to be backwashed in the case of a sand filter or your pump may need to run for a longer duration daily. With a cartridge filter your cartridges may need to be cleaned or your chemicals may be out of balance. Cloudy pool water is usually an early indicator of algae formation however, cloudy water can be caused from alot of factors. Too high ph, bad pool circulation, not enough chlorine, too high calcium are a few common reasons. With proper pool chemistry a UV pool sanitation system can help maintain your pool and make it more enjoyable and healthier to swim in.
Any metallic object that rusts or corrodes will stain your pool liner. Anything from hairpins to coins (money) left for extended periods can leave a rust stain on your pool liner. While lawn fertilizers, leaves, debris or anything else that contains pigments can stain your liner and leave a "bath tub ring" around your water line. This can be removed with TLC cleaner and some elbow grease.
No. We perform all our own work in house with experienced staff.
This depends on how much dirt is going through your filter. We have seen sand filters, work up to 20 years on the same sand or as little as a few years. This usually depends on maintaining a balanced pool chemistry and opening up your waste valve when vacuuming up debris and algae. There is also the arguement that the sands sharp edges wear down over time (not filtering as well) and that you should replace it sooner than later.
Every estimate will vary slightly in work being performed. Attention to detail costs more and quality is then built into the final product. It is very important to compare apples to apples. Sometimes companies are hopeful that they can provide you a high price and you will not shop around because you have been a loyal customer for years. Other times quality of the materials and workmanship are variables in the overall cost. Companies that have huge overhead of inventory have to charge more to cover their costs. We strive to offer the highest quality product and workmanship at a fair price.
If the movement hasn't affected the proper operation of your pool then this is largely an aesthetic problem. It is possible to replace the coping and/or pour a new deck to address any visual impact of the shifting. If the flow of water has problems we can lower the skimmer to return the pool to normal function. We recommend addressing the problem that caused the shifting when considering other repairs.
Your filter should be backwashed when the pressure reaches above 20-25 psi. The pressure is different for every pool / filter / pipe size / plumbing arrangement / heater combo and will depend on your particular combination. The psi can be anywhere from 15-30 psi before it requires backwashing. It is best to start with a baseline pressure. (The pressure your filter runs at right after you have backwashed.) Once that pressure incleases 7-10 psi it is best to backwash for 2 minutes or until the clear sight glass bulb is clean. (If you have a clear sight glass) Then rinse for 1 minute.
Backwashing your sand filter too frequently is counter-productive because it is the acumulated dirt that is trapped in the sand that creates a finer cleaning to catch those small particles.
Interview the salesperson and company throughly. It is important that they can provide references in your area. You can also ask what type of experience they have and what their main focus of business is, like swimming pool installations, repairs or renovations. Do they have required liability insurances to do construction and do they carry workers comp. Ask what type of experience the workers doing the job have. Ask the salesperson if they will be onsite while the work is being performed. Ask the salesperson if they have personal experience doing construction. Are you confident that the prospective pool company will treat your backyard with respect?
Usually you can change the shape of your pool. We can also add a staircase, change the deck, and upgrade the pool equipment while replacing the liner.
Often times a torn or ripped vinyl pool liner is caused from ice damage over winter. This is sometimes covered in your home owners insurance policy if it is proven that you had a previous hole in the liner by some abrasive object in the previous swimming season. We have a department that repairs rips in liners. Contact us to review your options.
Yes, there are a lot of lighting options available. It's best to do this when the liner is out. Click here for lighting options.
The answer is most cases is no. The diver will need to visually see your pool liner to check for leaks and make a quality repair. Your pool should be cleaned up before the diver arrives.
Yes. We can make your pool deeper or shallower while we're in the process of replacing the liner. Depth changes will typically result in the loss of the main drain, but many new pools are installed without them so it will not be a problem.
If you have a vinyl lined pool, the answer is no. Draining your pool causes your liner to shrink and put undue stress on it once it is refilled with water. Our divers can fix your problem underwater. Contact us today
Normal? No. The liner should be wrinkle free for the entire useful life of the liner. Wrinkles indicate a problem. The most likely causes of wrinkles are: 1. The liner was poorly installed. 2. Excess ground water has shifted the liner. 3. Low water PH has expanded the liner. It's OK to live with the wrinkles as long as they aren't causing a problem with vacuuming or other pool maintenance. More importantly, the cause of the wrinkles should be addressed. Call us for a sump pit install or ground water control system. If the wrinkles are causing maintenance issues or you just can't stand the sight of them, most of the time this means a liner replacement.
Depending on the size of your pump of course, 1000-1500 watts is common. This equates to $.06-$.09 per hour in Winnipeg with our current hydro rate. Best reccommendation is to use the smallest pump possible or buy a variable speed pump or 2 speed pump.
No, if the liner or pipes can be fixed before the snow flies, you will be saving yourself a huge headache come spring time. Leaking water left over winter can cause pipes to crack, soften pool bases, crack concrete and even push in pool walls.
All our pool liners carry a lifetime prorated warranty covering manufacturing defects and seam separation. Dale has been repairing pools for 10 years and has only seen 2 seam separations in this time. It's pretty rare that you'll see a manufacturing defect in your liner. Our services carry a 3 year warranty on workmanship.
This is usually either from sitting over winter and things need to be freed up or the motor capacitor is failing. There is usually a cap on the end of the motor that can be popped off and has a slot for a screwdriver so that you can manually rotate the motor while the power is off. When the motor takes longer and longer to start and buzzes the capacitor needs replacing. If the pump is new, make sure that the correct voltage is being applied to the motor. Either 120v or 240v and the wiring diagram will be on the motor.
Lead time on liners depends on the time of year. Anywhere from one week to one month. Spring time is the busiest for the pool liner factories, so the lead times are longest then. However, if you put in an order early spring we can have your newly renovated pool ready before swimming season!
Inground liners are typically 30mil thick. This is the industry standard for the longest lasting liner. A thicker would be less elastic and more likely to tear whereas a thinner liner will be less resistant to punctures.
When your pump makes loud noises, the seals are usually shot and the motor bearings are rusted and pitted. Replace the bearing/seals or might be better to just buy a new pool pump if your pump is an older model.
This can almost always be repaired using liner lock. The pool liner will have to be stretched back into the track and then secured with liner lock. There is a chance that the liner can tear during this process but only if it is very brittle.
After signing an agreement, lead time will typically range from 1 week to 1 month. Liners are custom measured then ordered, manufactured, and shipped specifically for your pool. We book on a first come, first serve basis.
This is a common question and it has a common answer. Usually the answer is no. This is because new pool pumps are more efficient and have better impeller designs and flow more water per hp. than older pumps. Providing your pump was sized properly originally, replacing with the same horsepower is usually sufficient. When a larger pool pump is installed and the same piping and filter are used the pressure will increase along with your electrical bill. The filter usually gets over driven and does not clean any better or faster. Even for the same price as a larger pump, buy the same size pump as you had originally. I know it can be tempting for only "a few dollars more" to get a bigger pump.
Typically 5 to 7 days start to finish. In this time we're usually working 2-3 days. The rest of the time is for allowing the pool to dry out. Weather permitting, 1 day of rain is 1 day delay. A complete pool renovation or rebuild can take a bit longer if new items and features are added.
This is a common problem and is a result of air being sucked into the pool plumbing. There are lots of places for entry but 90% of the time it is from the skimmer or the pumps strainer basket cover. If the pool water level is low or the flappy thing (called the weir) in the skimmer throat is stuck, this will cause air bubbles in your pool. Check the pump strainer basket O-ring for cracks by stretching it or bending it. Also, make sure the sealing faces where the O-ring sits are clean. You can also check the winterizing plugs on the pump to make sure the seals are not cracked on those as well. You can use silicone on the winterizing plug even with a dried out seal. If you have tried these steps and the air bubbles continue, you may require a pressure test to check your pool plumbing for leaks. Contact us today!
If the pool has been resurfaced (usually) it takes three days for the new bottom to harden. Touching the bottom sooner could leave permanent dents underneath the liner. You can swim right away if you can avoid touching the bottom, but if you can't then you'll need to hold off for three days to enjoy your pool completely.
Pumps usually leak around seals or connections. If the pump seals are leaking, the water will usually make its way into the motor or drip out the bottom. This usually results in rusted bearings and eventually a noisy, seized pump. If the pool pump connections are leaking, it is typically the pressure side which comes out of the top of the pump. This is usually caused from the threaded in fitting warping from heat and freeze/thaw in Winnipeg or improper sealing and/or undersized fittings originally. The best fix is to unscrew the fitting (which usually involves removing clamps or quick couplers) and replace with a PVC fitting. The threads are tapered and should tighten before they bottom out. We use silicone to seal the threads and teflon tape. If there are too many connections and pipes that need replacing you can call us and we can help you.
Yes. Patching, replacing sections or replacing the complete deck requires us to have a look at it. Email or call to set up a free estimate.
The best way to get more life out of your vinyl swimming pool liner is to take good care of it. In particular, make sure to:
Always use a pool cover in the winter (only on in ground pools). Always maintain proper pool chemistry.
Always keep the pool full of water when it's in use to prevent sun damage.
Keep the part of the liner that's above the water clean by using a pool vinyl liner cleaner.
Use a solar blanket when the swimming pool is not in use.
Never pump the water out of the pool lower than your winterizing level.
You could add a ultra violet sanitation system to greatly reduce chemical useage which will substantially extend the life of your liner.
If you follow these simple guidelines you will be sure to enjoy your vinyl-lined swimming pool for many, many years.
Call for a free estimate.
Having wrinkles and a floating liner can be an indicator of excessive ground water or a hole in the vinyl pool liner. The wrinkles can sometimes be removed with the use of a plunger, other times the water can be lowered and the wrinkles removed. The best place to start is by having the liner fixed or the water from behind the liner removed. The liner will then go down and back into place. If you are left with wrinkles, do not pump your pool out dry and try to start over, this usually results in a damaged liner. Contact a pool professional for further assistance.
Usually a sand/cement floor that should be hard and smooth or a vermiculite/cement base that is usually found on older pools.
Unfortunately, most swimming pool owners wait until their vinyl pool liner fails before they decide to replace it. The loss of pool water through pool liner failure, often results in significant damage to the underlying structure of the swimming pool. It is wise to replace your pool liner proactively when it is nearing the end of it's useful life. If your liner has rips longer than a couple inches or if your liner is losing elasticity and becoming brittle (look for horizontal cracking above the water line) you should replace it.
Your sand filter will not clean live algae. You will need to shock/flock your pool water to bring the algae down to the pool bottom and then vacuum on waste setting to get rid of it. Please follow the flock chemical manufacturers directions on the container.
This usually means that your pool has lost water over the winter or the liner could have ripped in the spring time. It is best to have it checked out by professionals.
Most of the time if there are structural problems with the concrete, installing a vinyl liner in most cases will fix it. Please contact us for an onsite inspection of your swimming pool.
Vinyl lined steel with a semi hard bottom. Why? Hydraulic clay and ground movement in Manitoba make vinyl lined pools the best option for pools in Manitoba. Other types of pools will crack, shift and leak. Concrete will crack, leaving sharp edges, this is why we have a semi hard bottom. Hydraulic clay expands with moisture and freezing. We can't control this behaviour so we need a pool that can move with the ground.
floating liner, leaky pool
Keep your pool full of water. Rain, run-off water, or a leaky pool liner can float your pool liner. Excess rain water that has floated your liner will eventually soak into the ground and your liner will go back down. If your pool has been losing water prior to your liner floating, then it is likely that a pool leak is causing your liner to float. The problem should get fixed as soon as possible and that will cure the liner floating problem. Most likely your liner has a hole in it or your underground pipes could be leaking (less common). We specialize in vinyl liner repair even under water!
Keep your pool full of water. Rain, run-off water, or a leaky pool liner can float your pool liner. Excess rain water that has floated your liner will eventually soak into the ground and your liner will go back down. If your pool has been losing water prior to your liner floating, then it is likely that a pool leak is causing your liner to float. The problem should get fixed as soon as possible and that will cure the liner floating problem. Most likely your liner has a hole in it or your underground pipes could be leaking (less common). We specialize in vinyl liner repair even under water!
Pool Pump
If you pool pump is not priming either your skimmer is plugged, you have not enough water in skimmer/pool basket or it can be plugged with leaves and debris, may have air leaks in suction lines, your pump is elevated above the pool water level taking longer to prime, or the valve on the front of your pump may be leaking air.
Pool Filter
Your sand filter dial head has the following positions. They are filter, backwash, rinse, winterize, whirlpool, and waste or drain.
Filter position: Used when you are running your pool and you want your pool water to be filtered. (most common position)
Backwash position: Used only when your filter is dirty and you want to clean the sand in your filter. Water is reversed through the sand and lifts out all the dirt and then discharges it out the waste pipe.
Rinse Position: Used only after backwashing. Does same thing as the "filter" position only water goes out waste pipe instead of back into pool.
Winterize position: Used in winter to relieve pressure off seals so they don't flatten and leak over time. Also lets air into the filter to help with draining the water out of your filter during winterizing.
Whirlpool position: Used when you want the water to bypass you filter. Handy when diagnosing problems with too much pressure or checking how dirty your sand is.
Drain position: Water from pool does not get filtered but goes directly out your backwash waste hose. This position is also handy if you are vacuuming up debris that you don't want in your pool or filter.
Pool Filter, sand filter
Sand Filter: To clean a sand filter, use a sand filter cleaning solution. This solution can be poured into your pump basket with the pump off. The valve on front of the pump needs to be closed before you start the pump up again for about 10 seconds (then open the lid of the pump basket and dilute the remnants of the solution with water). This will pump the solution into the filter where it will sit overnight to cleanse your sand. After it has soaked in the sand for 12 hours, the pump can be turned on with the filter handle in the backwash position for about 2 minutes then switch the handle to the rinse position for 1 minute. Always remember to turn the pump off in between filter handle position changes.
Cartridge Filter: To clean a cartridge filter, remove the filters, soak in a cleaning solution then hose off or pressure wash (on low pressure so filter pleats do not tear). Your goal is to clean between the pleats of the cartridge filter paper elements. Before cleaning either types of filter, always remember to shut off your heater/pump, drain out the water, and close all valves before removing the filter head.
Sand Filter: To clean a sand filter, use a sand filter cleaning solution. This solution can be poured into your pump basket with the pump off. The valve on front of the pump needs to be closed before you start the pump up again for about 10 seconds (then open the lid of the pump basket and dilute the remnants of the solution with water). This will pump the solution into the filter where it will sit overnight to cleanse your sand. After it has soaked in the sand for 12 hours, the pump can be turned on with the filter handle in the backwash position for about 2 minutes then switch the handle to the rinse position for 1 minute. Always remember to turn the pump off in between filter handle position changes.
Cartridge Filter: To clean a cartridge filter, remove the filters, soak in a cleaning solution then hose off or pressure wash (on low pressure so filter pleats do not tear). Your goal is to clean between the pleats of the cartridge filter paper elements. Before cleaning either types of filter, always remember to shut off your heater/pump, drain out the water, and close all valves before removing the filter head.